Everyone said, 'Emil, you are a fool!' But when I first won the European Championship, they said: 'Emil, you are a genius!'

Words are plentiful; deeds are precious.

It is hardly possible to build anything if frustration, bitterness and a mood of helplessness prevail.

The world needs leaders of vision instead of leaders on television.

We hold our heads high, despite the price we have paid, because freedom is priceless.

I only fear God, and my wife - sometimes.

Authority must be respected and chosen wisely.

Is it raining? That doesn't matter. Am I tired? That doesn't matter, either. Then willpower will be no problem.

My running was very simple; it was out of myself.

It is not necessary to smile and make a wonderful impression on the judges.

Sri Chinmoy brings Heaven to me. He inspires everyone to be happy. He deserves the biggest gold medal.

The athlete of today is not an athlete alone. He's the center of a team - doctors, scientists, coaches, agents and so on.

If you come to think of it, you never see deer, dogs and rabbits worrying about their menus and yet they run much faster than humans.

I was unable to walk for a whole week after that, so much did the race take out of me. But it was the most pleasant exhaustion I have ever known.

Men, today we die a little.

If I can get better, why not?

Try for a goal that's reasonable, then gradually raise it.

What has passed is already finished with. What I find more interesting is what is still to come.

Why should I practice running slow? I already know how to run slow. I want to learn to run fast.